Driving and reversing mechanism.



F. A. THURSTON.- DRIVING AND REVERSING MBCHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 10, 1908.

Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

' nnrrnsrarns rar-iin oneven FREDRICK A. THURSTON, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO ALEXANDER STEWART, JR., OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

DRIVING AND REVEBSING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

Application filed April 10, 190B. Serial No. 426,229.

To all 'whom it may concern:

le it knoivn that I, FnnDRroK A. THURS- Yron', of Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented cer-` tain new and useful improvements in Driving and Reversing, Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

lhis invention relates to a driving andC The invention consists in the mechanism hereinafter described and claimed.

if the acc-onipanying` di'a\vings,-Figui'e l represents a longitudinal section of a mechanism embodying the essential features of my invention.. Fig. 2 represents a crosssect'ional view of a portion thereof, showing one ot the driving and clutching devices. Fig. il represents a fragmentary elevation, showing an auxiliary positive clutch.

Referring to the drawings, itvvill be seen thatthe mechanism consists essentially of driving and driven shaft'sections l and '2, respectively, an intermediate shaft. section 3 which is also a driven section, and driving elements Ll. and 5 which are operated by the driving shaft section and are alternately clutched to the other sections. These shaft sections are in alinenient and are independent elements, although the driven and intermediate sections 2 and 3 are coupled totions.

gether so that rotation is transmitted from one to the other, the forni of coupling, however, permitting a slight endwise movement of the internrediate section for a purpose to be described.

The driving elements or members 4; and 5 i are preferably gears, both of which are mounted on the intermediate shaft section il and turn loosely thereon. The gear 4 is i,

coupled a coupling t5 keyed to the a. flange 7, and a sleeve liangc T and to the gear sl.

gear o receives its motion from the gear l S bolted to said to the driving shaft sect-ion. 1 by shaft and having i 'lhe other dri ving g through an intermediate gear 9 upon a stud 1() and meshing with both the gears 4 and This driving connection causes the gears i and to turn constantly 1n opposite direclt is to be understood that I am not coni-ined to such a connection, as any other form of drive may be employed which will cause the main driving members to rotate oppositely. f

vThe gear l has a hub 11 which as before stated, turns loosely on the shaft section 3, and beside the same is a clutch member 12 which is lirmly united to the shaft 3 by a key 13. This clutch member takes the form of a flange or disk perpendicular to the shaft and lying beside theweb of the gear 4r. The connection between this gear and the sleeve 8 previously described, takes the place of an ann ular tia nge, web or plate 111 formed upon the sleeve S and lyingbeside the disk 12 on the opposite side of the latter from vthe hub ll of the gear. This plate or web is secured to the gear, as shown, by bolts 15. The sleeve S is rotatable in 'a bushing 16 in a bearing lT. and forms in turn hearing for the Ashaft section in Which the latter is loosely rotatable.

The web of the gear between the hub and riln thereofis cored out or cui away in parts, as shown in lffg. 2, and in thc spaces thus provided are inserted plates or pads 1b which lie close. to the surface of the clutch disk l2 on the opposite side of tl'ielatter from the plate or disk 14. The pads lts are held in place by adjustable stops l0 carried by bell-crank levers 2t) pivoted to studs 2l on the hub ot' the gear. llach of these bell cranks has an arm 22 extending beside the shaft and somewhat inclined toward the latter. There is a double conical actuator Q23 whidh slides upon the shaft0 section and has a central annular groove 24 into which `project studs carried by the forked lower end of a manual actuating lever 2b. v

As will be readily understood, when the actuator 2?) is moved toward thc gear, its conical end inserts itself between the shaft and the ends of thtl bcll- -rank levers, forcing the latter outward and moving the adjustable stops lt) against the pads lh. 'l`hus thel pads art` pressed. lirlnly against the disk l2 and the rcaction thereof being communicated to the body of the gear through the fulcruni pin 2l, draws the plate 14 against he other side of the disk lZ. or rather moves the disk against said plate, such movement being permitted by the latitude which is given to the shaft Il totravel slightly endwise. rl"hereby the clutch disk l1 is gripped upon opposite sides by two ankingmem; bers which give the strongest possibleV frictional hold. n l The above'- described clutch mechanism serves toconnect the intermediate shaft section and to cause it to rotate in on'e direction.d Thisrotation is communicated to the driven section 2 through the medium of Va disk 27 placed upon theend of the section 3. The end portion of this shaft section which receives the disk isuof non-circular outline, being preferably square, as shown at 28, though any other foi-'m is suitable, andr the 'disk 'has a correspondingly shaped hole through which such non-circular en d projects. The disk is bolted to the flange 29 of a coupling 30 which-is keyed to the section 2.

;It will be understood from .this description,y

that rotation of the shaft section 3 without turning shaft section 2, is impossible, and that the manner of connecting the two sections together allows the intermediate section to travel endwise a. short distance. Also coupled to the liange 29 is a disk or ange 31 on a sleeve 32 Which'loosely surrounds the shaft section 3, forming a bearin7 therefor, and Vis contained in a bushing 33 of a bearing 34. This sleeve carries a flange or disk 35 which lies beside the reverse drivin@ gear 5 and between the web portion thereo `and an annular plate 36\bolted to the back thereof. The gear 5 is onstructed similarly to the gear 4 already described, and carries lpads 37 which are pressed upon by adjustab e stops 38 on bell-crank lever`s` 139 whenever the lateral arms thereof are moved by the right- I -hand coni al end of the actuator 23. .Actuation of hese bell-crank levers causes the disk 35 t'o be gripped between the plate 36 and pads 37 'so as to be secured to the ear with a firm frictional hold. The coup ing 30 transmits the reverse motion of the gear 5 when so clutched to the driven shaft section 2, the intermediate'section beinggneanwhile released from the gear 4, and when the latter section and gear are clutched together the driven section 2 is also rotated, but in the forward direction, by the engagement of the non-circular portion 28 and dlsk 27. Only one clutch is operative at the same time, for the reason that they can only be rendered operative b the actuator 23, and this member travels ack and forth between them, be-

ing out of contact with one when operating 55 upon the other. I have found thatthis construction provides great strength and a strong frictional hold, so that it is possible to throw first one and then the other clutch into engagement, causing the shaft section 2 to rotate in opposite directions asI ra idly as anattendant can move the reversing ever 26 back and forth. With the greatest possible speed of shifting of the actuator, the clutching engagement is always firm, and at'the'same time there isno possibility of breaking any of the parts. The fact that the intermediate shaft section is movable endwise, allows the disk 12 to be forced tightly against the web plate 14 whenever the corresponding clutch is actuated, and also allows the disk to be reloqsened. Thusan equal gripping pressure may be applied upon both faces 'of the disk thereon. By reason of the location of. the

positive clutch teeth above described, they are not caused to engage until after the trie tion clutch members have been brought to- Agether with their greatest degree of irn'mess,

but when this engagement with the friction clutch membershas been effected, the posikr tive teeth come into .action andetlfectuelly prevent any slipping. of the driver wi spect to the driven member. vThe friet-ion latitude for slipping to avoid shock in start-I ing the driven member, andalso danger of breakage, while the positive clutch guards against slippinof after the driven member has been started.

clutch in becoming engaged, allows sufcient y 1. A reversibleA driving mechanism, coniv transmit rotation thereto, oppositely moving 'drivers actuated by said driving shaft sec CIV tion,` an intermediate motion-transmitting connection between said drivers, clutch ele -Y ments fixed to the respective driven sections, and clutches operable to secure said drivers one at a time to the said clutch elements.

'l 2. A-reversibleldriving mechanism, comprising a driven shaft section, two oppositely movin drivers rotatable loosely around said s aft section, a connect-ion for transmitting reversed motion from -one driver to the other, a second driven sha-ft section withvwhich said tirstnamed section is so engaged as to transmit rotation thereu to, a clutch element secured to eachr of the said sections, and clutches carried by drivers independently seem-able to clutch elements, the first section having pro vision for some endwise movement, where byeither clutch element may be freed before the other is engaged.V

3. A reversible drivging mechanism, comprising ytwo drivers means for causing iis lieved from this plate when the clutch i5 lo' @assoc one of said drivers to rotate oppositely to the other. a singleshaft section passt ing through both drivers. and coperating clutching devices on the drivers and shaft respectively. one of said devices being tiiied to said shaft, a second shaft section to which another of said devices is rigidly connected, said first shaft section beingmovable endivise to enable one of the clutches to be disconnected before the other is connected.

4l. A reversible drivingmechanism, consisting of a plurality of shaft sections, ro-

tary drivers loose on one of said sections` a clutch element fixed to cach sectiomcoinplemental clutch elements carried by said drivers on opposite sides of each of the shaft clutch elements, means for rotating one of said drivers. means for causing the other driver to rotate oppositely thereto, and

. means for causing the driver clutch elements each said shaft section, a web detachably fasened to each said driver on one side of one pad and the latte' against the disk, 'the reaction of said pad and lever causing said web to bear against the disk, whereby the saine is gripped simultaneously from opposite sides.

e. A reversible driving mechanism, consisting of a plurality ot' shaft sections, rotary drivers loosely mounted, means for causing one of' said drivers to rotate oppositely to the other, a disk secured to each said shaft section, a web detachably fastened to each said driver on 'one side of a disk, a movable plate or pad carried by each driver on the opposite side of the disk, a lever pivoted to the hub of each driver, an actuator engaged with said shaft so as to be slidable' thereon and. rotatable therewith, ar-

'anged to move the lever of each driver in such manner as to press said pad and web j gfrippingly against opposite sides of the disk,

and complemental positive clutch elements on the adjacent portions of said actuator 5 and drivers, whereby the latter are positively clutched to the'shaft after the fri`ctional clutching members have been brought into engagement.

9. .X reversible driving, mechanism consistingr of a plurality of shaft sections, a

disk, a movable plate oi' pad carrier by each g driver on the opposite side of the disk, and a lever carried by the driver so to bear against said pad and, when operated, to

disk secured to each section, a driving gear wheel beside each disk and loosely mounted ivith respect to said sections, a connection press the pad and web against the opposite side of the disk with a `gripping` action.

6. A reversible driving mechanism, consisting of a plurality of shaft sections, rotary drivers loosely mounted on one of said sections. means for causing one of said drivers to rotate oppositely to the other, a disk securedto each said shaft section, a Web detachably fastened to each said driver on one side of a disk. a movable plate or pad'carried by each driver on the opposite side of the disk, and a lever pivoted to the hub of each driver and adapten to press with one t arm against said pad, whereby to force the pad and Web against opposite sides of the disk and grip the latter between them.

7. A reversible driving mechanism, consisting of a plurality of shaft sect-ions, rotary drivers loosely mounted on one of said sections, .means for causing one of said drivintermediate. saidl gear wheels for transmity ting' reversed motion from one to the other,

movable. pads set into each ,dear to engage one face of a disk, a Aweb or plate detachably secured to each gear so as to embrace the disk. and bell-crank levers pivotedy to the hub of each gear, each having an arm adjacentone of the pads, said levers of either gear beingy simultaneously actuable to press the pads-against one face of-the disk and draw the .web or plate-against the other face thereof, whereby the disk is frictionally gripped to the gear. v

l0. A driving' and reversing,r mechanism. comprisiine` 'driving and driven shaft section.r`l and an intermediate driven shaft' section, a gear loose on said intermediate section and coupled'to said drivinso section, a

ers to rotate oppositely to the other -a disk i secured to each said'shaftsection, a web detachably fastened to each said driver on one side of 4a risk. a movable plate or pad carried by each driver on the opposite side of the disk, a lever pivoted to the hub of each driver, having one larm extending beside the .shaft and the other beside the pad, and a l conical actuator movable endivise on the l i l l l v shaft. operable to force theadjacent lever arm of eitherydriver avay from the shaft and thereby press the other arm against the second gear also loose on the intermediate section, an intermediate driving?r connection through which said second gear is driven by the first said'gear in the opposite direction, clutches carried by each of said gears, a' member tixed to the intermediate shaft section adapted to'be `gripped by the clutch onf the first gear, a similar` member surrounding the intermediate section and coupled to 'the said driven section, adapted to be gripped by' the clutch of the second gear, a connection whereby rotation is communicated to the driven section from the intermediate shaft section, and a clutch actuator arranged to cause either clutch singly to grip its respective member.

11. A driving and reversing mechanism romprising driving anddriven shaft sectionand an intermediate driven shaft section, a gear loose on said intermediate section and coupled to said driving section, a second gear also loose on the intermediate section, an intermediate driving connection through which said second gear is driven by the first" said gear in the opposite direction, clutches `carried by each oi said gears, a flange fixed to the intermediate shaft section adapted to be gripped by the clutch of the first gear, a sleeve surrounding the intermediate section and coupled to the said driven section, 'having a lateral flange adapted to be'gripped by the clutch of the second gear, a connection lwhereby rotation is communicated to the driven from the intermediate shaft section, and a clutch actuator arranged to cause either clutch singly to grip its 'respective iange.

12. A driving and reversing mechanism,A

'eomprising driving and driven shaft sections of the second gear, and a coupling between the intermediate and driven shaft sections transmitting rotation from one to the other and permitting endwise movement of the former relatively to the latter.

13. 'A driving and reversing mechanism,

lcomprising driving and driven shaft sections and an intermediate-driven shaft section, a gear loose on said intermediate section and coupled to said driving section, a secognd gear also loose on the intermediate section, an inf termediate pinion meshin with bothgears through which' said secon gear is drigen by tl1e=frst said gear in opposite dir'etion, clutches-carried by, each of saidV gears, a

tion adapted tobe gripped'- by the clutch of the rst gear, a similar member surrounding the intermediate section and Acou led to the the clutch ofthe second gear, and a disk surroundingthe'l end of the intermediate shaftsection and S'nured to the adjacent end of the' drivenA section, said intermediate section being non-circular at its `end and entering a correspondingly shaped vaperturein said disk, whereby endwi'se motion thereof is per.- mitted and rotation is transmitted therefrom to the driven section. a

In testimony whereof I have affixedmy signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

rR-EDRIGKA. THURs'roN.

Vitnesses 1 P. W. Pnzzm'rr, e ARTHUR H.l Bnovvrn ymember fixed tothe intermediate shaft sec- *said driven section, adapted to be gripped by 

